Some Good ol Red, White, and Blue in Restenäs

Our second half of the week started with some drizzly rain and some chillier weather. The team members decided was both an inconvenience for the work site, but a huge blessing in comparison to Boot Camp back in Florida. It’s just a little bit of perspective haha. On Thursday (July 2), they continued to work on what is referred to as ‘The White House Café’. Their goal was to strip and sand the old, withering white paint that has been there for the last 16 years. It was a good two full days of hard work on it. Saturday, they finally got to start the painting process! I don’t know what other team will get to say they painted the White House on the Fourth of July, but it’s fun to say that we did! Some other projects included digging and weeding. They have been doing some great work! Friday (July 3), our team got to join a youth group service in town at a local church. We were blessed to be able to give a presentation. It looked a little like this: Ms. Maddi, Mr. Brandon, and Ms. Bekah led a couple of songs of worship. Then Aiden gave a gospel presentation using 2 Corinthians 6:2, which says, “For he says, “In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” He did an incredible job and we as leaders are so proud! He then introduced our Battle Grounds Drama about spiritual warfare. That drama included Ransom, Justus, Melodey, David, Adaline, Lizzy, Aiden, and Nora. After the Drama, Bobby came up and gave a testimony of temptation and used the story of Jesus tempted in the wilderness. He also did a great job and we are so blessed as leaders to see the Lord use each one of our team members for the Kingdom’s cause! To end the team got up and sang ‘My Lighthouse’. After that was over, we had fellowship over some taco salad and played some games. The following day was the Fourth of July, we celebrated with American flags given to us by Bob Lane back at Boot Camp, burgers, the most wonderful Swedish cake we’ve ever had, and a bonfire on the mountain side! It was also Adalines birthday and we were sure to celebrate her as well! Sunday morning, we went to that same church again and the team led worship with ‘10,000 Reasons’ and ‘Amazing Grace’. Following that, Esther gave a testimony of Gods faithfulness to hear our prayers even when we sometimes feel like He doesn’t. She did a wonderful job and it was blessing to hear how the Lord is working in her life. The rest of the day was spent resting and working on verse reviews. We had an opportunity to walk to the coast and polar plunge into the sea. It was a beautiful, sunny afternoon. We’ve been very blessed here in Sweden by the beauty of creation. As we look ahead to our next week of work, we will be helping with a retreat of 150 people that will be on property. Our team will continue on a lot of the same projects as previously mentioned as well as working on cleaning the terracotta roofing on the building we’re staying in. Thank you so much for your prayers! You can continue to pray for: Health and Safety, Encouragers to spur on the team (We leaders do our best but it’s nice to hear from others as well), That our physical and spiritual work in Sweden would be fruitful and productive.

Rivers: Hey friends and family! I’m loving Sweden. It’s so beautiful here and the food is amazing! The work projects are going great, too. Thank you so much for all your prayers!

Hope: Hi family! Being in Sweden is amazing, the weather is perfectly cool and sunny. We went to the coast yesterday which was beautiful, though I did get sunburnt. Working around the YWAM base is rewarding and we are making progress on the renovations.